Powers/Abilities: Nidhogg stood several stories high, and possessed wings enabling it to fly. It had powerful jaws with sharp teeth, claws on its appendages, and was a capable swimmer.

History: (Norse/German Myth)- Nidhogg was a dragon who dwelled within Hel, where it feasted upon the dead. Nidhogg also nibbled upon the roots of Yggdrasil, always threatening to destroy it. Nidhogg often bickered with an eagle which lived at the top of Yggdrasil. Their gossip was spread by the squirrel Ratatosk.

Nidhogg was fated to survive the events of Ragnarok, to feast upon those slain during the events.

(Thor I#339, 340 (fb))- After Balder descended into Hel, he witnessed Nidhogg devouring the dead, and was horror-stricken at the sight.

(Thor I#486)- Nidhogg was released from Hel by Kurse along with a score of other monsters to oppose Thor and Sif on Earth.

(Thor I#487)- When Nidhogg threatened a passing jet, Thor flew after it and struck it down with a blast of lightning, sending it back to Hel.

(Avengers III#1)- Nidhogg was sent to Earth by Morgan Le Fay to provide a menace which would draw the Avengers back together. It came to Wakanda, where it attacked a wedding where the Black Panther was officiating. The Black Panther was in the process of steering Nidhogg away from a village when it vanished at Morgan Le Fay's command.

(Thor II#85)- Nidhogg's corpse was seen by Yggdrasil, as Asgard perished in Ragnarok.

Comments: Adapted by Walter Simonson.

Will U: In the myths, Jormungand is almost definitely equated with Nidhogg. Both creatures were cast from Asgard; both creatures nibbled at Yggdrasil and both creatures threatened Idunnís golden apples. In the German myth, however, Nidhogg survived Ragnarok to feed upon the corpses of the dead tossed to it; otherwise, they are sometimes treated as one and the same. In the Marvel Universe, they are treated as separate creatures.